Skip to main content
Erschienen in: Journal of Religion and Health 4/2010

01.12.2010 | Original Paper

Religious Perspectives on Abortion and a Secular Response

verfasst von: Moira Stephens, Christopher F. C. Jordens, Ian H. Kerridge, Rachel A. Ankeny

Erschienen in: Journal of Religion and Health | Ausgabe 4/2010

Einloggen, um Zugang zu erhalten

Abstract

This paper concerns the medical, religious, and social discourse around abortion. The primary goal of this paper is to better understand how seven of the world’s major religious traditions (Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Jewish, Islamic, Buddhist, Confucian, and Hindu) address abortion ‘in the clinic’. We do not aim to critique these commentaries but to draw out some of the themes that resonate through the commentaries and place these within complex social contexts. We consider the intersection of ontology and morality; the construction of women’s selfhood; the integration of religious beliefs and practices in a secular world. We suggest that for many women, religious doctrine may be balanced with secular logic as both are important and inextricably linked determinants of decision making about the termination of pregnancy.
Fußnoten
1
On Luther’s teaching on the two kingdoms see Haerle (2004).
 
2
For additional background see Goldsand et al. (2001).
 
3
In the section on “The Crime against the Fetus,” Jazari > , ‘Abd al-Rah}ma > n al-, Kita > b al-fiqh ‘ala > al-Madha > hib al-’arba’a, Kita > b al-h}udu > d (Beirut: Da > r al-Kutub al-‘Ilmiyya, 1392 AH), v. p. 372ff.), takes up detailed comparative rulings on the status of the fetus and culpable actions leading to its abortion among four Sunni schools.
 
4
This is the H{anafi > definition of jani > n as mentioned by Ibn ‘A <bidi> n, Muh}ammad Ami > n, Ha > shiya Radd al-mukhta > r li kha > timat al-muhaqqiqi > n Muhammad Ami > n al-shahi > r bi Ibn ‘A <bidin ala > al-Durr al-mukhta > r fi > sharh} Tanwi > r al-abs}a > r fi > fiqh madhhab al-Ima > m Abi > H{ani > fa al-Nu’ma > n (Cairo: Shirka Maktaba wa Mat}ba’a Mus}t}afa > al-Ba > bi > al-H{alibi> , 1386/1966), Vol. 6:587. See also: Ibn Nujaym, Zayn al-Di > n, al-Bah}r al-ra > ’iq: Sharh} kanz al-daqa > ’iq (Cairo: al-Mat}ba’a al-‘Ilmi > ya, 1983), Vol. 8:389; Ka > sa > ni > , Abu > Bakr b. Mas’u > d al-, Bada > ‘i’ al-Sana > ‘i’ fi > tarti > b al-shara > ‘i’ (Beirut: Da > r al-Kita > b al-‘Arabi > , 1982), Vol. 7:325.
 
5
Al-Mawsu > ’a al-fiqhiyya al-kuwaytiyya, Vol. 16:279.
 
6
Ibid.
 
7
See the declarations at the UN International Conference on Population and Development (ICPD), September 5–13, 1994, Cairo, Egypt.
 
8
In recent years a number of articles have appeared in Arabic and Persian that discuss abortion in the context of modern medicine. Unlike articles in Western languages on the subject of abortion in Islamic tradition, these are written by Muslim scholars of Islamic law, whose thorough grounding in juridical sources and methodology make these studies important contribution to our understanding of the issue in jurisprudence. However, there is little attention paid to the ethical issues connected with the rightness or the wrongness of abortion with due analysis of personhood and rights that accrue to a fetus. See, for instance, a number of articles on the subject in Majalla al-shari > ’a wa dira > sa > t al-isla > miyya, published by the Kuwait University in the last 5 years.
 
9
Mah}mu > d Shaltu > t, al-Fata > wa > : Dira > sa li-mushkila > t al-muslim al-mu’a > s}ir fi > h}aya > tihi al-yawmi > ya al-‘a > mma (Beirut: Da > r al-Shuru > q), pp. 289–297, in his discussion on family planning has claimed the consensus of all the scholars in the matter of birth control for the purpose of protection of the offspring, especially when the Shari > ‘a has laid down the rule that states: “Harm must be rejected as much as possible.” Also, see an important study on the comprehensive sense of family planning, including population control, by Abdel Rahim Omran, Family Planning in the Legacy of Islam (London: Routledge, 1992). Also of significance are the proceedings of the first international Muslim conference on family planning held in Rabat, Morocco in December 1971. The Arabic version entitled: al-Isla > m wa tanz}i > m al-’usra, in two volumes was published by International Planned Parenthood Federation, Middle East and North African Region, Beirut in 1973. The English version: Islam and Family Planning in two volumes appeared in 1974. In the second volume the consensus of the Sunni and Shi > ‘ite scholars appears to endorse birth control through methods that may not affect permanently the couple’s ability to bear children.
 
10
For a fuller discussion of early teachings and the textual sources mentioned below readers are referred to Part 2 of my Buddhism and Bioethics (Palgrave MacMillan, 2001).
 
11
Vin i.97.
 
12
VA.ii.437f.
 
13
For a feminist perspective on abortion in Japan see Hardacre (1997)
 
14
The tradition has, from ancient times, distinguished between a miscarriage and an abortion. The former is unintentional while the latter is voluntary and consequently morally suspect. One of the early terms for abortion is bhruna hatya (the killing of a fetus).
 
15
The four Vedas are the Rg, Sama, Yajur and Atharva. The first section of each text provides information and rules for the performance of religious rituals; the final section of each text, referred to as the Upanishad, is the most important source of religious and philosophical thinking Hinduism. Secondary religious texts, referred to as smriti, depend on the Vedas for their authority and includes works such as the Mahabharata, Bhagavadgita, and various law books (Dharmashastras) such as the Manusmriti.
 
16
For an excellent summary of the material in the smriti texts see Lipner (1989).
 
Literatur
Zurück zum Zitat Aquinas, T. (1920). The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas (1225–1274) aquinas [Fathers of the English Dominican Province] (2nd ed.). London: Burns Oates & Washbourne. Aquinas, T. (1920). The Summa Theologica of St. Thomas (1225–1274) aquinas [Fathers of the English Dominican Province] (2nd ed.). London: Burns Oates & Washbourne.
Zurück zum Zitat Atkin, K., Ahmed, S., Hewison, J., & Green, J. M. (2008). Decision-making and ante-natal screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders—To what extent do faith and religious identity mediate choice? Current Sociology, 58(1), 77–98. doi:10.1177/0011392107084380.CrossRef Atkin, K., Ahmed, S., Hewison, J., & Green, J. M. (2008). Decision-making and ante-natal screening for sickle cell and thalassaemia disorders—To what extent do faith and religious identity mediate choice? Current Sociology, 58(1), 77–98. doi:10.​1177/​0011392107084380​.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Bonhoeffer, D. (1956). Ethik. Muenchen: Ch. Kaiser Verlag. Bonhoeffer, D. (1956). Ethik. Muenchen: Ch. Kaiser Verlag.
Zurück zum Zitat Breitowitz Rabbi, Y. A. (1996). How a Rabbi decides a medical Halacha issue. In Conference on Jewish medical ethics. San Francisco, CA. Breitowitz Rabbi, Y. A. (1996). How a Rabbi decides a medical Halacha issue. In Conference on Jewish medical ethics. San Francisco, CA.
Zurück zum Zitat Burke, T. K., & Rearden, D. C. (2002). Forbidden grief: The unspoken pain of abortion. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books. Burke, T. K., & Rearden, D. C. (2002). Forbidden grief: The unspoken pain of abortion. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books.
Zurück zum Zitat Crawford, S. C. (1995). Dilemmas of life and death. Albany: State University of New York Press. Crawford, S. C. (1995). Dilemmas of life and death. Albany: State University of New York Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Cromwell Crawford, S. (1995). Dilemmas of life and death (pp. 31–33). Albany: State University of New York Press. Cromwell Crawford, S. (1995). Dilemmas of life and death (pp. 31–33). Albany: State University of New York Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Davis, D. S. (1992). Abortion in Jewish thought: A study in casuistry. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 60(2), 313–324.CrossRef Davis, D. S. (1992). Abortion in Jewish thought: A study in casuistry. Journal of the American Academy of Religion, 60(2), 313–324.CrossRef
Zurück zum Zitat Dunstan, G. R. (1984). Introduction to human procreation: Ethical aspects of the new techniques, report of a working party, Council for Science Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press. Dunstan, G. R. (1984). Introduction to human procreation: Ethical aspects of the new techniques, report of a working party, Council for Science Society. Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Feldman, D. M. (1986). This matter of abortion. In Health and Medicine in the Jewish Tradition. New York: Crossroad. Feldman, D. M. (1986). This matter of abortion. In Health and Medicine in the Jewish Tradition. New York: Crossroad.
Zurück zum Zitat Florida, R. (1999). Abortion in Buddhist Thailand. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan. Florida, R. (1999). Abortion in Buddhist Thailand. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan.
Zurück zum Zitat Gissler, M., Hemminki, E., & Lonnqvist, J. (1996). Suicides after pregnancy in Finland, 1987–1994: Register linkage study. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 313, 1431–1434. Gissler, M., Hemminki, E., & Lonnqvist, J. (1996). Suicides after pregnancy in Finland, 1987–1994: Register linkage study. BMJ (Clinical Research Ed.), 313, 1431–1434.
Zurück zum Zitat Goldsand, G., Rosenberg, Z. R. S., & Gordon, M. (2001). Bioethics for clinicians: 22. Jewish bioethics. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164, 219–222.PubMed Goldsand, G., Rosenberg, Z. R. S., & Gordon, M. (2001). Bioethics for clinicians: 22. Jewish bioethics. Canadian Medical Association Journal, 164, 219–222.PubMed
Zurück zum Zitat Haerle, W. (2004). Zweireichelehre. In G. Müller (Ed.), Theologische realenzyklopaedie (Vol. 36, pp. 784–789). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter. Haerle, W. (2004). Zweireichelehre. In G. Müller (Ed.), Theologische realenzyklopaedie (Vol. 36, pp. 784–789). Berlin: Walter de Gruyter.
Zurück zum Zitat Hardacre, H. (1997). Marketing the menacing fetus in Japan. Berkeley: University of California Press. Hardacre, H. (1997). Marketing the menacing fetus in Japan. Berkeley: University of California Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Hughes, J. (1999). Buddhism and abortion: A western approach. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan. Hughes, J. (1999). Buddhism and abortion: A western approach. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan.
Zurück zum Zitat John Paul, I. I. (1995). Evangelium vitae: Encyclical letter on the value and inviolability of human life [monograph on the internet]. The Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana. John Paul, I. I. (1995). Evangelium vitae: Encyclical letter on the value and inviolability of human life [monograph on the internet]. The Vatican: Libreria Editrice Vaticana.
Zurück zum Zitat Jones, D. A. (2004). The soul of the embryo. New York: Continuum. Jones, D. A. (2004). The soul of the embryo. New York: Continuum.
Zurück zum Zitat Kiss, I. (2004). Bioethics and human embryos from the standpoint of a protestant theologian. Human Affairs. Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 14, 37–44. Kiss, I. (2004). Bioethics and human embryos from the standpoint of a protestant theologian. Human Affairs. Slovak Academy of Sciences, Bratislava, 14, 37–44.
Zurück zum Zitat LaFleur, W. A. (1992). Liquid life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan. Princeton: Princeton University Press. LaFleur, W. A. (1992). Liquid life: Abortion and Buddhism in Japan. Princeton: Princeton University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Lipner, J. J. (1989). On abortion and the moral status of the unborn. In H. G. Coward, J. J. Lipner, & K. K. Young (Eds.), Hindu ethics (pp. 44–48). Albany: State University of New York Press. Lipner, J. J. (1989). On abortion and the moral status of the unborn. In H. G. Coward, J. J. Lipner, & K. K. Young (Eds.), Hindu ethics (pp. 44–48). Albany: State University of New York Press.
Zurück zum Zitat McDonagh, E. L. (1996). Breaking the abortion deadlock: From choice to consent. New York: Oxford University Press. McDonagh, E. L. (1996). Breaking the abortion deadlock: From choice to consent. New York: Oxford University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Ray, P., Gupta, H., & Ray, M. (Eds.). (1980). Susruta Samhita: A scientific synopsis (p. 22). New Delhi: Indian National Scientific Academy. Ray, P., Gupta, H., & Ray, M. (Eds.). (1980). Susruta Samhita: A scientific synopsis (p. 22). New Delhi: Indian National Scientific Academy.
Zurück zum Zitat Reardon, D. C., Makimaa, J., & Sobie, A. (2000). Victims and victors: Speaking out about their pregnancies, abortions, and children resulting from sexual assault. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books. Reardon, D. C., Makimaa, J., & Sobie, A. (2000). Victims and victors: Speaking out about their pregnancies, abortions, and children resulting from sexual assault. Springfield, IL: Acorn Books.
Zurück zum Zitat Ruddick, S. (1994). Thinking of mothers/conceiving birth. In D. Bassin, M. Honey, & M. M. Kaplan (Eds.), Representations of motherhood. New Haven: Yale University Press. Ruddick, S. (1994). Thinking of mothers/conceiving birth. In D. Bassin, M. Honey, & M. M. Kaplan (Eds.), Representations of motherhood. New Haven: Yale University Press.
Zurück zum Zitat Tankard Reist, M. (2000). Giving sorrow words: Women’s stories of grief after abortion. Sydney: Duffy & Snellgrove. Tankard Reist, M. (2000). Giving sorrow words: Women’s stories of grief after abortion. Sydney: Duffy & Snellgrove.
Zurück zum Zitat Tedesco, F. (1999). Abortion in Korea. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan. Tedesco, F. (1999). Abortion in Korea. In D. Keown (Ed.), Buddhism and abortion. London: Macmillan.
Zurück zum Zitat Thielicke, H. (1981). Theologische Ethik. I ed. Tuebingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck). Thielicke, H. (1981). Theologische Ethik. I ed. Tuebingen: J. C. B. Mohr (Paul Siebeck).
Metadaten
Titel
Religious Perspectives on Abortion and a Secular Response
verfasst von
Moira Stephens
Christopher F. C. Jordens
Ian H. Kerridge
Rachel A. Ankeny
Publikationsdatum
01.12.2010
Verlag
Springer US
Erschienen in
Journal of Religion and Health / Ausgabe 4/2010
Print ISSN: 0022-4197
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-6571
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-009-9273-7

Weitere Artikel der Ausgabe 4/2010

Journal of Religion and Health 4/2010 Zur Ausgabe

Editorial

Editorial

Psychological Exploration

Twelve-Year-Old Face, Holy Heart